Australia produces 4 per cent of the world's beef, or two million tonnes a year, and is the third largest beef exporter.

The post-farm gate value of of Australia's beef industry is $11.6 billion, of which 60 per cent is exported to over 100 countries. But over half of the value of sales is on the domestic market.

China is becoming an increasingly important export market for Australian red meat. Exports in August reached new highs of nearly 25,000 tonnes, or just under 20 per cent of Australia's total red meat shipments.

Sales are growing like topsy. A year ago China took just 4 per cent of Aussie red meat in August.Brady Sidwell, from food manufacturer OSI group, says demand will continue to grow, but Australian exporters need to have a physical presence in China, they need to know the trader they are dealing with and what the consumer wants.

Mr Sidwell says the Chinese prefer lean beef and they will eat every cut, so there are real opportunities to export the whole grass-fed carcases including offal.

He says despite growing demand the Chinese herd is declining and in a bid to build the herd, the government is providing subsidies to cattle enterprises in some provinces.

These subsidies are going to feedlots, for the use of artificial insemination and for the purchase of feed.

These attempts to grow the herd provide opportunities for Australia to supply heifers for breeding, semen and stockfeed.

Another market being discussed at the AMIC conference is Indonesia.

It's more than two years since Australia imposed a temporary ban on live cattle exports, following revelations of extreme cruelty in Indonesia.

Although the trade's been up and running again for at least 20 months, it has never really recovered.

David Foote, chairman of the Joint Industry Market Access Task Force on Indonesia, says progress in rebuilding trade has been slow, in part because of actions by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who offered the Indonesians $50 million to buy Australian cattle and also because of newly-elected Coalition Government's policy on boat people.

Mr Foote says these two things have soured relations with Indonesia and it is critical that the Abbott Government makes every attempt to rebuild relations with the Indonesian Government.

Mr Foote says the future of trade will be a combination of boxed beef and live cattle.

He sees no problems if the Indonesians want to buy land in northern Australia and produce their own cattle, as they have done it before.

The Port of Brisbane handles $50 billion worth of trade each year and half of all of Queensland's agricultural exports, including all of the state's beef exports.

CEO Russell Smith says the Port is the fastest growing multi-cargo port in Australia and there is plenty of room to expand.

He says a quadrupling of the number of trucks on the roads over the next 25 years is forecast, which will create massive congestion on Queensland roads, especially on the Gateway Motorway.

Mr Russell says a dedicated rail freight line from the West of the state to the Port of Brisbane is critical, as is the development of coastal shipping.

The planned rail corridor will cost billions and, while the Queensland Government and the new Federal Government have committed an initial $300 million, the private sector will have to contribute the lion's share.